Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-06
A BIG FIRE AT SMYRNA
TINE "TIMES" OFFICE HAS Il
CLOSE SHAVls.S
hF ryps Considerably Damaged hy
Water aed PinNscr-s.ist 1ks the
Go~>e- ap,I RHsnrsucs So Far ms
eks.t.,i.ts, q,


special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal
SAtYHNA Dec 81 This town waa
electrified Mt tie curly hour of O'Clock,
this morning. by fhe cry of Fire Fire"
and III mn instant wtndows were raised
and anxious inquiries made as to the
whereabouts of the eopflagration. In a
few minutes hundreds Of men, women
and children were rushing towards the
''Four Corners" In q few minutes the
hose carriage was on the scene, and a.
quickly as attachments could be made 10
the plugs three streams of water were
turned upon the flames.
The fire originated, it is said, In the
news stand and cigar store of John II.
Oathcsrt, although Mr.. Cathcart says that
he left no fire of any amount in his stove
the night before. However, some person
going home from the bnll held in the
town hall, discovered the fire and gave
the alarm.
IN q short time the clothing store of J.
=. Phillips, the large building owned by
II, M. Johnson, and occupied by johnson
Bro. shoe store, Americus Club, j. B.
AIiGan, sns,lraneo agent, Joshua I. Jer-
nian, Insurance agent and Che Times ofllco
were all in flames.
store Of J. E. Phillips into the adjoining
general merchandise store Of William e.
Wintord, and between the flames and the
water gutted it Of its contents. At one
time il seemed as if the flames would get
hold on the storehouses occupied by
Mrs. Lord and Carl w. Williamson, but
happily this was averted.
Cathcart's, Phillips, and Winford's
stores are gutted and perfect wrecks, as
far as the stock is concerned and the
same might almost be said for the lower
portions of the two stores. The johnson
Building was saved although the contents
were badly damaged by water.
1t was with difficulty that the flames
were extinguished, but happily they were
gotten under control although they would
break ont Rt intervals, only to be ex-
tinguished by q well-directed stream of
water. The Times Office suffered especially
from water and plaster in their cases Of
type, beside other damage.
II is the first fire of Importance since the
water-works have been in operation. Old
4iremen say it was the most stubborn fire
they ever experienced. After playing upon
the hamesuptil about o'clock, the people
returned to their homes.
Mr.. Winford suffered severely from an
attack Of nervous prostration, as he WAS
the owner Of all three of the buildings
burned, and, consequently, the heaviest
loser. Joseph L. Carter had his hand
badly cut with glass. To make the work
more difficult snow-sto was in pro-
gress at the time and the weather very
cold.
The following are the estimated losses
William E. Winford, three storehouses,
$4,000; stock in his store, $3, 500 in
surance right. It is impossible at present
to get his exact loss. John FL. Oatheart,
loss, $500; insured in Hanover for
$500 Phillips, loss on stock, $4,000;
insurance-Kent Company, Mutual,
$4,000: Glenn Falls, 81, 900; II. M. john
son, loss $400 Kent County Mutual
and Continental German-American.
Americas Club, $50, no insurance; j. =
Mitilin, $i00, no insurance; Tines, $3.50 TO
5000; Kent County Mutual, fully insured.
j. Z. Phillips, stock valued at "a, 900, total
loss; insurance County Mutual,
- ,i50, Glen Falls, 81 1000. William Z.
Winford, loss on stock, SO 500, insured in
Kent County Mutual for $1,000; loss
Kent Ra us; ooansy Mutual MSi for oTufSa 5000. o.
John II. Oathcart, loss on stock, $500; in
sured in Hanover Company fos--%sUu. II.
M. johnson, loss 7, 'aro9tse py IRE and
wster on butldtng about S25U, fully insured.
Americus Club, $35 to $50; no Insurance.
Times, loss by fire, water and plaster about
800, fully insured in Kent County Mutual.
j. b. MifIiin, $50; no insurance.
Mr.. Wintord saved great amount of his
stock, but 1t is badly damaged. He Is doing
business In the Ward Building until hfs
storehouses are repaired.
William +. Clement, one of Smyrna's
nj uprto fIow
In Wenonah, N. o., to Miss Tillie Packer OF
that place,